How to Bring a New Horse Home

When you are bringing a new horse home, you will want to do everything that you can to ensure that it is settled in and comfortable as soon as possible. This way, you are getting things off to a good start, and it can settle in as a member of the family at the earliest possible stage. There is plenty that you are going to need to do before you get your horse home (and plenty to do once it actually arrives as well). So, let’s check out a few top tips that can help you to successfully bring your horse home.

Ensure it has a health check

Before you bring your horse home, you will need to make sure that it has been checked over from a health point of view. This way, there are not going to be any unexpected surprises along the way that you have to deal with. At the same time, you are going to want to make sure that it is fully up to date with all of its vaccines. You will want to get all of the certifications from the place where you are getting your horse, as this may be needed at some point down the line – particularly if you are going to a new vet and they need to have all the necessary information and details.

Consider its diet

Getting information about the diet of the horse is highly important as this is going to play such a major role in its ongoing health and well-being. So, you will need to know as much as possible about what it has been eating already. If you are looking to change its diet, this is best done in gradual steps rather than rushing into it all at once. Drastic food changes can provide a shock to the system, which is why it is going to be worth avoiding these as much as possible. Again, you should be able to work closely alongside your vet to ensure that you are getting this right straight away.

Prepare your stables

Before you start to think about horse transport and a horse taxi service, it is going to be more than worth ensuring that you have fully prepared the stables. This means getting everything into the most liveable possible conditions before your horse actually arrives. If you have owned horses before, you will probably already have a good idea of exactly what you need to do. However, if this is your first time, there is likely to be some more prep work that goes into it all. You should also ideally consult with the experts who can provide you with some advice on what needs to be done. Any stables, paddocks, or fencing all need to be properly secured to ensure that your horse is going to be fully comfortable in its new environment.

Stock up on all the necessary equipment

Again, this is another step that you should be naturally taking on before your horse actually arrives at its new destination. This includes grooming suppliers, as well as any riding equipment that you need. While there may well be some items that you have forgotten, it is going to be more than worth putting in place all the necessary prep work, as this means that you will have most situations covered and you will be able to fill in all the gaps at the end.

Give your horse time to adapt

Moving to a new home is bound to be a stressful experience for a new horse, so you cannot expect that it is going to adapt with no drama at all. Instead, you need to ensure that you have given it the necessary time. Each and every horse is going to go at their own pace. Even if you have owned many horses in the past, this new one may well take more time and patience to become comfortable in its new environment and with its new owners.

Use daily grooming as a chance to bond

Just like with all pets, you need to make sure that your new horse bonds with you. One of the best ways that you have of doing this is with a daily grooming ritual. Not only is this good for your horse, but it is also going to help you to foster the type of closeness that is needed for riding. After all, when you get a horse, this is often a pet that you are going to have for many years ahead of you, which is why it is more than worthwhile ensuring that you have gotten the bonding process right straight away. Ultimately, it is all about the daily activities rather than a rush to the finish line.

Keep a close eye on its health

The stress of the move and the change in diet and routine present a risk for your horse, which is why it is worth keeping an extra close eye on it during the first few days and weeks. There are likely to be more appointments with the vet that you will need to make, as well as reports that you will have to give as to the condition of your horse and any adjustments that you may need to make to how you are keeping it. Ultimately, the more time and/ effort that you put into caring for your horse, the better it is likely to go as a whole.

Bringing a new horse home can be a highly stressful experience for everyone involved, but it is also one that is packed with excitement and magic. These are just a few of the ways that you can help to ensure that it all goes smoothly. There are likely to be some bumps in the road, but they will all be worthwhile when you eventually reach the stage when your horse feels fully comfortable in its new environment, and you are happy with it as well.

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